The Patrol 600 is a 6-metre rigid inflatable boat that belongs to the Patrol Limited Edition range of the Brest-based manufacturer 3D Tender. The range comes in five sizes ranging from 5.30 m to 6.50 m. The Patrol series is presented by the manufacturer as the elite of its range, initially developed for professionals: firefighters, coastguards, port operators, before winning over private individuals practising offshore fishing, among others. In short, a boat that can follow you everywhere.
A fully configurable deck layout
This is the signature of the Patrol series: the boat is delivered with its main deck elements as standard, but their positioning remains free. The helm console and bolster seat can be installed at the customer’s convenience, in consultation with the dealer, on a self-bailing deck even at rest.
This approach turns the deck into a genuine blank page:
- Patrol XL console with storage locker and adjoining seat, positioned according to the intended use: centred for family use, moved aft to open up a large forward fishing station, or moved forward to free up an aft working platform.
- XL Bolster seat with storage locker and picnic table, typical of professional use and standing navigation.
- 100-litre stainless steel fuel tank recessed into the deck, which completely frees up the transom and lowers the centre of gravity.
- Forward locker under the deck, anchor well and EPDM bow davit for organised anchoring.
- Swimming ladder as standard, positioned so as not to clutter the aft working area.
The options catalogue extends this modular logic: double or triple XL bench seat, double roll bar, T-Top, stainless steel tube ladder. A user can thus reconfigure the boat from a fishing programme to family or professional use without changing units.
Self-bailing and safety: a design geared towards intensive use
The Patrol 600 is self-bailing, even at rest, a characteristic noted by the specialist press from its launch. The non-slip deck, the five airtight compartments of the inflatable tube, the double rubbing strake, the bow protection strip, the double grab lines and the cone reinforcements complete a specification clearly oriented towards intensive use and durability.
The choice of fabrics is part of this logic: Valmex PVC from the German company Mehler as standard, or Orca Hypalon from Pennel & Flipo for tropical zones and extreme exposure, with a price difference of approximately €3,570 between the two versions. User feedback on the Patrol range confirms the durability of the Valmex PVC and the reliability of the double row of grab lines, while noting a somewhat rough texture to the touch.
Behaviour at sea: the feedback
A dealer, who carried out a sea trial of the Patrol 600, describes its behaviour as “remarkable for a high-performance rigid inflatable boat”. The large-diameter tubes (57 cm) and the low weight largely explain this agility: the boat handles loads well and retains reserve stability at full passenger capacity, a quality sought after by the professional operators for whom the series was designed.
The press finally notes the deliberate absence of a sun deck and lounge features in favour of a cockpit designed as a practical space for fishing, hunting or intervention, without however giving up genuine seating.
Main specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall length | 6.00 m |
| Interior length | 4.75 m |
| Beam | 2.40 m |
| Interior width | 1.23 m |
| Depth | 1.20 m |
| Tube diameter | 57 cm |
| Airtight compartments | 5 |
| Unladen weight | 350 kg |
| Inflation pressure | 0.25 bar |
| Capacity | 13 persons |
| Maximum power | 140 hp (single L shaft) |
| Transom angle | 24° |
| Fuel tank | 100 L (stainless steel, integrated into the deck) |
| Design category | C |
This data comes from the manufacturer’s specification sheet. At its launch, the boat was approved for 135 hp; the current sheet indicates 140 hp. The weight-to-power ratio attracts attention: 350 kg for six metres allows moderate engine power (dealer packages commonly offer Suzuki 100 hp engines) while retaining load capacities superior to those of many competitors of equivalent size, a point claimed by the manufacturer.
Conclusion
The Patrol 600 should not be read as a rigid inflatable boat for cruising but as an open and configurable platform. Its strength lies in three points: a self-bailing deck whose layout remains to be defined by the user, a robustness of design (five compartments, double rubbing strake, self-bailing at rest) inherited from professional specifications, and a controlled price for a six-metre boat approved for 13 persons and 140 hp. For a semi-offshore angler, a diver or a local authority looking for a versatile unit that can be reconfigured as uses evolve, it constitutes one of the most rational propositions in the segment. The choice of fabric — PVC or Hypalon — and the positioning of the deck elements with the dealer remain the two structuring decisions of the purchase.